Rockingham County holds public hearing-style comment period on proposed ICE detention contract

Rockingham County commissioners on Jan. 30, 2026 told a packed public meeting they have begun an exploratory review of a contract proposal from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to house detainees at the county jail and will not vote until more information and required partner agreements are secured.

Chair Kate Boyle said the county received a contract proposal from ICE a few weeks ago and that commissioners have "a lot of questions" about the financial terms, legal liabilities and operational implications. Boyle said commissioners will submit questions to the superintendent and, where appropriate, to Homeland Security, evaluate necessary memoranda of understanding with local partners such as Exeter Hospital, confirm translation capacity and other compliance elements, then schedule a specially noticed public hearing before any vote.

The announcement led to an extended public-comment period in which more than a dozen residents, clergy, elected officials and advocates urged commissioners to reject the contract. Speakers raised multiple concerns: that ICE detains many people without criminal records, that federal payment and contractor‑payment histories raise the risk of unfunded local costs, that housing civil immigration detainees would impose additional medical, mental‑health, transport and translation burdens on county staff and nearby providers, and that the county’s reputation and community trust could be harmed.

"You can't enter into a contract with the department that lies," Joanne Foster of Portsmouth told the board, referencing criticisms of ICE’s recent public record. Faith leaders, including the Rev. Ellen Quadrass and Rev. Tara Olsen Allen, framed the decision as a moral issue for the county to consider. State Rep. Eric Tur, representing Brentwood, said the contract should be treated as a high‑risk per‑diem capitation agreement rather than a simple rental, warning that the county could shoulder significant operational obligations for a relatively low daily rate.

Several speakers pointed to recent controversies in other jurisdictions, including reports that ICE has failed to pay local partners and that legal settlements have followed some detention agreements. A number of public commenters, including health‑care and legal professionals, warned that contracted medical providers with poor records would create direct risk to detainees and to the county if care lapses occur. "If you enter into this contract, we risk unpredictable, unfunded expenses," Carly Bariont, vice chair of the Hampton select board, told commissioners.

A smaller number of speakers — and at least one commissioner — argued the county already cooperates with many law‑enforcement agencies and could provide humane treatment and clear oversight if detainees were housed locally. One commissioner said housing detainees in Rockingham County could ensure better medical and daily care than alternatives and stressed the county acts as a "landlord" rather than an arresting agency.

Commissioner Tom Tamburello, who said he has spent substantial time researching the proposal and visiting ICE facilities, said he will submit additional questions to the superintendent and to ICE and could not yet announce a final position. "We're not going to be voting on this contract for a month, maybe two months," he said during the meeting, urging residents to monitor the process and attend the upcoming public hearing.

The board closed public comment and voted unanimously to enter a nonpublic session under RSA 91‑A for personnel/minutes. No vote on the ICE contract was taken at the meeting. Commissioners said they will notify the public in advance when the county has answers to its questions and when the special hearing will be scheduled.

Speakers quoted in this article are drawn from the meeting transcript and public comment: Chair Kate Boyle; Commissioner Tom Tamburello; Joanne Foster (Portsmouth); Reverend Ellen Quadrass (South Church, Portsmouth); Reverend Tara Olsen Allen (Pilgrim United Church of Christ); Eric Tur (state representative, Brentwood); Carly Bariont (vice chair, Hampton select board). The county emphasized that further procedural steps and partner agreements are required before any contract vote.